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FloridaCopyright 2017, Tampa Bay Times. All rights reserveden-usMon, 19 Nov 2018 16:47:17 -0500https://www.tampabay.com/news/breaking/with-124-million-in-new-money-bus-agency-enters-new-world-of-options-20181119/
{7B0401B5-07F1-46C7-E053-0100007F74AD}Pubdate:Mon, 19 Nov 2018 16:43:06 -0500TAMPA - Even before he arrived at the office the morning after election night, Jeff Seward was calling in instructions to the bus agency he heads.

Voters had just approved a new transportation sales tax that will boost the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit authority's yearly operating budget from about $80 million to $200 million. Suddenly, the agency that was cutting routes in 2017 is now eyeing dozens of projects and bus service improvements that have languished on the drawing board for years.

"You all need to take a look at how we can more buses here and get them fast," Seward, interim chief executive, told his operations team.

The changes will begin in 2019 with the expansion of the University area connector and the frequency of four major bus routes to every 15 minutes. In all, the agency hopes to add 900,000 miles of new service in 2019, which will require 30 new buses and a hiring blitz to find more than 60 new drivers.

And that is just the start.

New routes will be added in the next three years, Seward said, and the agency will begin planning for a new mass transit system linking the University area, downtown Tampa and Westshore as required by the county charter change that voters approved.

"This is a new world for HART financially,-&quot; Seward said at an executive committee meeting of the agency's governing board Monday.

The new tax comes after years in which HART has struggled to provide countywide bus service. Declining ridership and rising expenses led to a cut of nearly 20 percent in bus routes during October 2017.

The current operating budget of $80 million, all from property taxes, is on a par with Fairfax, Va., and Albany, N.Y., according to Federal Transit Administration data. And it's roughly $17 million less than the transit agency in Cincinnati, Ohio, which serves a similar sized population.

But the influx of $124 million per year from the new sales tax will put Hillsborough on a par with communities like San Antonio and Las Vegas. More buses should mean more revenue from the fare box too.

The move to 15 minute intervals for HART's busiest routes is considered a necessary step to grow ridership and to attract people who have their own transportation. Studies suggest that when wait times are longer, people will no longer just turn up and wait for a bus without first consulting a schedule. The four routes now run every 30 minutes during peak times.

"Even if you just miss the bus, in 14 minutes you can get another one," Seward said.

It typically takes up to a year for delivery of the buses used by HART, at a cost of $500,000 each and powered by compressed natural gas. But HART is negotiating with supplier Gillig to reduce that to six months and if that fails, the agency may lease buses.

HART recently purchased eight used buses from the transit agency in Sarasota to replace aging buses in its fleet. Now, those buses are likely to go into service sooner.

The hiring of drivers will also likely be a challenge since the agency is still involved in collective bargaining with the driver's union.

The changes wrought by the influx of the sales tax don't end on the road.

The agency is planning a major marketing campaign to grow bus ridership and is seeking the help of financial consultants to manage its new revenue streams. It will have to shift from a single-fund accounting system and it plans to hire Clifton Larsen Allen and the Public Resources Advisory Group for advice on managing interest, borrowing and cash flow modeling.

"There is a lot more planning involved," Seward said.

The expansion of bus service planned for 2019 must still be approved by the full HART governing board next week. These are among dozens of proposed enhancements that were identified in the agency's Transit Development Plan, which was developed with input from the public.

But with new funding now available, it makes sense for HART to go back to the public and the business community to make sure these still are the projects it should develop, Seward said.

Members of the finance committee said the extra funding will mean extra scrutiny of the agency to ensure it is spending tax dollars in the best way. But there was clear excitement about the options the extra funding has created.

"It is such an incredible opportunity that voters in Hillsborough County gave us in wanting to have a high quality transit system in Hillsborough County" said board member Pat Kemp, who is also a county commissioner.-&quot;Our bus service has been terrible. This is very exciting."

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{7B0C4C47-7091-7391-E053-0100007F7043}Pubdate:Mon, 19 Nov 2018 16:34:52 -0500TAMPA - Leave it to the arrival of a visionary investor like Sir Richard Branson to help flesh out the vision for Brightline's proposed Tampa-to-Orlando passenger train service.

The same day, Virgin Trains USA filed notice of a common stock offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission giving more detail for Brightline's proposed Tampa expansion.

The company hopes to launch rail service along the Interstate 4 corridor from Tampa to Orlando in 2021 and it expects ridership to take two years to ramp up.

Travel time between the two cities is projected to be an hour - Virgin's trains will have a top speed of 125 mph - compared with 90 minutes by car and 2 hours and 5 minutes for Amtrak's Silver Star. The trains feature leather seats, food and beverage service and free high-speed WiFi. Virgin projects it can hit these goals by capturing about 2 percent of the travel market between Miami and Tampa, considerably less than the 10 to 30 percent market share held by established rail service like Acela in the northeastern U.S. or Italo in Italy.

Creating the Tampa-to-Orlando service has an estimated cost of $1.7 billion. Virgin projects 2.9 million passengers a year between the two cities, with a $73 ticket price - more than $100 less than the average Acela fare of $174 - generating nearly $212 million a year in ticket revenue. Virgin expects food and beverage sales, parking, naming rights, sponsorships and partnerships, merchandise, advertising and other fees to equal about 14 percent of total revenues, or about $12 per passenger.

Virgin anticipates a Tampa terminal somewhere in or near downtown Tampa with "adjacent real estate for commercial development." Brightline's business model combines using rail to connect cities with traffic and congestion, and developing real estate around its terminals to cater to businesses and residents drawn to the alternative that rail provides in a dense and active urban environment. In the Overtown area near downtown Miami, its terminal is at the heart of a 1.6 million-square-foot privately financed development that includes two office towers, two apartment towers, 130,000 square feet of stores and restaurants.

But in Tampa, Virgin said, "we have not yet acquired all real property interests necessary for the Tampa Expansion," adding that some "must be acquired from private parties."

Of the Tampa sites that Brightline is known to have scouted, the old Morgan Street jail site is owned by the state of Florida, Tampa Union Station is owned by the city of Tampa, the Tampa Park Apartments are owned by a nonprofit group headed by Florida Sentinel Bulletin newspaper publisher S. Kay Andrews and the GasWorx property, near the proposed Ybor City site of a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium, is owned by investor Darryl Shaw.

Virgin also said it expects to contract with "municipal and private parties to purchase, lease or otherwise obtain the right to use land for the construction and operation of the Tampa expansion."

They aren't quarterbacks who win. They are quarterbacks who beat themselves.

Sure, the Bucs on Sunday racked up more than 500 yards of offense for the fifth time this season. They've gained more passing yards than any team through 10 games in NFL history, more than even the 2000 "Greatest Show on Turf" Rams.

Maybe they're not so bad. They lost to the Giants by only three points, after all. They've played in seven one-score games this season and a league-high 17 since the start of last season.

A bounce here, a bounce there, right?

No.

No. No. No.

And furthermore:

Forget all that. Forget the yards. Forget the close games. Forget the decisions on fourth down. Forget the kickers.

In the grand scheme, those things are meaningless.

Turnovers matter. They matter more than almost anything else except touchdowns. Simply put, the more touchdowns a team scores, the more likely it is to win, and the more turnovers it commits, the more likely it is to lose. More than 40 percent of a team's win total can be determined solely by its turnover margin, according to ESPN.

It can't be overstated: In a game in which each team has a limited number of possessions, every time a team gives the ball away that's one less opportunity for it to score points and one more opportunity for its opponent to score points.

You know this, of course. You've been living it.

Not just this season. Or last season. You've been living it since 1976.

Since then, the Bucs have committed almost 1,400 turnovers. Only the Cardinals and Rams have committed more. It's no coincidence that Tampa Bay has the NFL's worst win percentage in that span.

This season, the Bucs have committed a league-high 29, and no one else is particularly close. The Bills and Jets each have committed 22.

They not only give the ball away but also never take it back. They've forced just six turnovers. Only the 49ers, their next opponent, have forced fewer (five).

It's not luck. Bucs defenders often aren't even in position to contest catches. Eli Manning threw 18 passes Sunday, and for the most part he didn't have to throw the ball very far to find an open receiver.

Odell Beckham? Open.

Saquon Barkley? Open.

Evan Engram? Open.

Wayne Gallman? Open.

David Meggett? Open.

The Bucs have recorded a league-low 23 passes defended this season. Cornerback Brent Grimes had more than that by himself in 2016. To be sure, injuries and inexperience are factors. They're flat-out undermanned. As a result, they're playing a lot of zone coverages, which a veteran like Manning can easily diagnose and exploit.

So how bad is it exactly? If you've wondered lately whether Tampa Bay will win another game this season, you're not being overly pessimistic. These Bucs have the mark of a winless or near winless team. They're on pace to have the largest turnover differential ever. Yes, EVER.

Here's the company Tampa Bay is keeping:

• The 1965 Steelers (minus-30 turnover margin, the NFL record): What are the Steelers doing sharing a list with the Bucs? This was before Chuck Noll. Before L.C. Greenwood. Before Mean Joe Greene. Before Terry Bradshaw. Before Mel Blount. Before Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Mike Webster, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and Jack Lambert. In other words, in 1965 the Steelers weren't yet the Steelers. Record: 2-12.

• The 1989 Cowboys (minus-25): This was Jimmy Johnson's and Troy Aikman's first season in Dallas. It also was Herschel Walker's last. On Oct. 12, the Cowboys sent their best player to Minnesota in the largest trade in NFL history. Though the deal was panned initially, the draft picks Dallas acquired helped it build the core of three championship teams. The Cowboys tanked before all the cool kids started doing it. Record: 1-15.

• The 2000 Chargers (minus-28): The Chargers, like the Bucs, actually were trying to be competitive. But they had Ryan Leaf. They didn't have much of a run game (1,062 yards), either. No team since has struggled as much, not even Tampa Bay. As a reward for its futility, San Diego received the top pick in the 2001 draft and then traded it to Atlanta. The Falcons took Michael Vick; the Chargers took LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees. Record: 1-15.

• The 2017 Browns (minus-28): The Browns followed up their 1-15 2016 campaign by losing every game in 2017. By going 1-31, they set an NFL record for worst win percentage over a two-season span, a record once held by the 1976-77 Bucs. Their next great hope: quarterback Baker Mayfield. Record: 0-16.

This Bucs free fall isn't stopping. There's not a quarterback they can turn to or a coach they can fire. There's nothing between them and the bottom.

NFL standings: Tampa Bay edition

If the season ended today, this would be the order of the 2019 NFL draft (first tiebreaker is strength of schedule):

1. 49ers (2-8)

2. Cardinals (2-8)

3. Raiders (2-8)

4. Jets (3-7)

5. Giants (3-7)

6. Bills (3-7)

7. Bucs (3-7)

Storylines

• The Bucs are hard to look at, and they're not going to get any easier on the eyes next season. They have no plans to introduce new uniforms in 2019.

The Bucs could use another cornerback or four, so they should jump in the Ramsey sweepstakes, right? A couple of things to consider: 1.) 30 other teams will be interested, so the price the former Florida State star will be high, likely astronomical. 2.) Tampa Bay has done this before - in 2013 with Darrelle Revis - and it backfired badly.

Granted, Revis was coming off a major knee injury, was 28 during that season and was playing under a coach and general manager desperate to keep their jobs. Ramsey will be 25 next season and won't be eligible for free agency until 2021.

Ramsey is a playmaker, but he can be prone to allowing big plays, too, which we saw during the Jaguars loss to the Steelers on Sunday. Though he picked off Ben Roethlisberger twice, he also allowed a 25-yard completion late that set up a game-winning touchdown.

No word yet on whether the Bucs also will seek to raid George W. Bush's cabinet and pursue Colin Powell.

• Tight end O.J. Howard, arguably Tampa Bay's best player, suffered an ankle injury Sunday and didn't return to the game. He was evaluated further today and is in the process of getting a second opinion.

• In his Bucs debut, Cairos Santos made all five of his extra points. That's great and all, but before we hand him the keys to Tampa, let's see how he kicks in front of the home crowd.

• Looking ahead to the 49ers' visit, it will be a homecoming for Matt Breida, the former star running back at Nature Coast Tech High in Brooksville. Breida, who signed with San Francisco after the 2017 NFL draft (the draft in which Tampa Bay chose Jeremy McNichols in the fifth round), is enjoying a breakout season. He has gained 756 yards from scrimmage and scored five touchdowns. Bucs running backs Peyton Barber, Jacquizz Rodgers, Ronald Jones and Shaun Wilson have gained 814 yards from scrimmage and have scored three touchdowns.

• Sunday will be a reunion of sorts for Todd Monken and Nick Mullens, who has gone from practice squad player to 49ers starting quarterback. Monken recruited Mullens to Southern Mississippi in 2013, and two seasons later Mullens set school single-season records in touchdown passes (38), passing yards (4,476) and completions (331). He also holds records in career touchdown passes (87) and passing yards (11,994).

What I got right

What I got wrong

That the Bucs could beat the Giants with play-action passes. Fitzpatrick and Winston combined to complete 6 of 8 passes for 84 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Manning, however, completed all 10 of his passes for 155 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

NASHVILLE-Gradon Coburn only sees his son, Braydon, about three times a year. Of those three, the Lightning's annual Dads trip is the only occasion they get one-on-one time together.

This weekend, when the Lightning players, coaches and staffers brought their fathers along for their time in Philadelphia and Nashville, was no exception.

When the Lightning got to Nashville on Saturday evening, the Coburns went out with a few other players and their dads. After a little while, Braydon turned to his dad and suggested they go talk, just the two of them.

"Every year, it's been a good bonding trip," Braydon said. "Every year I find out something new about his childhood or my Grandpa Gordon or my Grandma Martha. It's just neat to have that time and be able to pick his brain."

He said the trips have brought him and his dad closer over his 15 years in the NHL. Saturday, they talked about Braydon's childhood playing hockey in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. Gradon was surprised by some of the things Braydon remembers from such a young age.

Braydon moved away at 14, when his parents sent him to a private school. Then he played junior hockey in Portland (1,900 miles from home), was drafted by Atlanta and spent the bulk of his career in Philadelphia before being traded to Tampa Bay.

"I maybe see him three times a year," Gradon said. "He's always been far away, so it's nice to come down here for a couple of days."

The only downside is Gradon is a "terrible roommate" and "incredibly loud snorer," according to Braydon. So Braydon made sure to pack earplugs.

Over the years, Gradon has gotten to know the other dads, as well. The Lightning haven't had a lot of turnover, so most of the dads have been coming back year after year. Two years ago, on the same Philadelphia-Nashville trip, Andrei Vasilevskiy asked Gradon to look after his father, who doesn't speak any English. By the end of the trip, they were able to understand each other pretty well without knowing each other's languages.

Neither Vasilevskiy's father nor Mikhail Sergachev's father, who Gradon also got to know, were able to make the trip this year. Sergachev made sure to pass his father's greetings along to Gradon, though.

For Rocco Cirelli, making his first dads trip with his son Anthony, it's been nice to get a better feel for what his son's life is like.

"You get to see the people that they're with and the family they've built there," he said. "Seeing it for yourself reinforces that they're in a good place. This helps relieve some of that worry and stress."

Now, Cirelli's and Victor Hedman's mom are both lobbying for a moms trip.

The Yankees great is expected to get near unanimous support from the 400-plus voting members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Other newcomers include the late Roy Halladay (who won two Cy Young awards), Andy Pettitte, Todd Helton, Michael Young and Miguel Tejada.

Among the 15 holdovers on the ballot are Tampa native Fred McGriff and longtime Mariners 3B/DH Edgar Martinez, who are in their 10th and final year of eligibility. Also, Tampa's Gary's Sheffield and Manny Ramirez, who played briefly for the Rays.

A player must be named on 75 percent of the ballots cast to be elected (and 5 percent to remain on the ballot). Votes are due Dec. 31 and results will be announced Jan. 22.

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{7AA46DCB-90AE-4805-E053-0100007F0F7D}Pubdate:Wed, 14 Nov 2018 16:00:48 -0500Chefs in professional kitchens are constantly coming up with ways to do things just a bit quicker and more efficiently. I picked up some tips and tricks when I participated in a five-day boot camp at the Culinary Institute of America in New York in October. The chef presiding over the class, David Bruno, graduated from the school in the '80s before going on to work in restaurant kitchens.

Aside from a kitchen stocked with every cooking tool imaginable, my favorite part of the class was asking Bruno how to do things smarter and faster. He was full of advice - so much so that he said the school will be starting a boot camp built around these tips.

One of my favorite little tricks: When you're dredging something like chicken cutlets in egg and breading, designate a wet hand and a dry hand, and put the other one behind your back while you dredge with the other, so you don't confuse them and wind up with bread crumbs in your egg.

I thought some of these tips would be useful for preparing Thanksgiving dinner, usually one of the largest and most elaborate meals home cooks make all year. The main takeaway? Prep work will save you loads of time and sanity on the actual day. Make whatever you can in advance, even the little things that you don't think will take much time. Here are five other things that may help.

Make your own stock. Homemade stock will make almost every dish on your Thanksgiving table better. That is just a fact. Making stock can be intimidating, but it plays a very important role in the pro kitchen, and boxed stock bears little resemblance to the real thing. We always had some on hand in our culinary class, and used it in just about every recipe to deglaze a pan, add moisture to meats, thin out and add more flavor to soups and stews, and even flavor mashed potatoes. Basically, anything that needs more moisture or flavor could use a spoonful of stock. Make it this weekend so it's ready for use on Thanksgiving. Freeze any leftovers in 1-cup portions. And another tip: Save the turkey carcass and make a post-Thanksgiving stock using the same recipe, just switch the chicken for turkey.

Prepare mise en place the day before. Mise en place is French for "everything in its place," and in the kitchen it refers to the gathering and preparing of ingredients before you set out to cook a dish. But you don't have to do this right before you prepare the meal. You can chop everything that needs to be chopped the day before (or even two days before) and store it in zip-top bags until you're ready to use it. Consider taking an hour or so in the coming days and filling bags with diced onion, chopped carrots or celery, minced garlic, lemon wedges - things you know you'll need come Thursday.

Make a roux in advance. A roux is a thickening agent made from butter and flour that is the key ingredient in dishes like macaroni and cheese. Typically, it's made just before adding milk or other liquid to the pan, which becomes a sauce. But you can stop before adding the liquid, scoop the flour-butter mixture into a container and refrigerate it for 2 or 3 days or freeze it for longer, and use whenever you need it. To make, simply melt butter in a small saucepan, sprinkle an equal amount of flour over the melted butter and whisk until it's thoroughly combined. Cook, stirring often, for a couple of minutes over medium heat until the roux is a pale yellow.

Identify your cookware before you cook. This is such a "duh" piece of advice, but it stuck with me. Far too often, I wait until the last minute to find the proper cooking vessel, only to see it sitting dirty in the dishwasher. Not all skillets serve the same purpose. If you're frying something, you'll want a deeper skillet to contain oil. Finding these items ahead of time is especially important on Thanksgiving, when we use tools and dishes we don't use any other time of year. Better yet, identify cooking vessels that can go from oven or stovetop to table. Think through your meal and locate what you need now. That way if you need two roasting pans, Aunt Mary can bring one over.

Use your senses. Every day at boot camp, we made dishes from a book of recipes. And every day, there was something off about one of the recipes. Chef Bruno was quick to tell us to ignore that, and to use our five senses to make good cooking decisions. If you're sauteing something, it's probably done when it has good color If something is burning, you'll be able to smell it. One of the best ways to tell if a piece of meat is done is to poke it with your finger. And, this may be the most important one: Taste your food constantly, and adjust flavors as you go. As you're preparing your Thanksgiving dishes, don't be afraid to go off-recipe and use your instincts.

TAMPA - The Bucs will not place linebacker Kendell Beckwith on the team's 53-man roster in time for Wednesday afternoon's deadline to activate him, meaning Beckwith won't play this season.

Beckwith suffered a broken ankle in a car accident riding as a passenger back in April, an injury that required surgery. He opened the season on the non-football injury active list.

The Bucs started the clock on a 21-day practice window on Oct. 31, giving the team three weeks to either place Beckwith on the active roster or place him on the NFI inactive list, which would end his season.

In recent days, head coach Dirk Koetter said that Beckwith was making significant progress toward being active, but ultimately, he could not get ready in time.

"Kendell made progress, and he worked his tail off to get back," Koetter said. "I don't think people can appreciate how serious a surgery that he had, and it was an uphill battle. He worked hard to get back, but he's just not going to get back to a point where he feels comfortable playing at the level that he knows he can play at."

The Bucs were counting a return from Beckwith - who made 73 tackles, including seven for loss, as a rookie last season - to help an injury-riddled linebacker corps.

The Bucs are already without starting middle linebacker Kwon Alexander for the season with a torn ACL. Outside linebacker Lavonte David missed Sunday's game with an MCL sprain. Reserve Jack Cichy is also out for the season with an ACL tear.

The Bucs will go back to the future by starting Jameis Winston at quarterback Sunday against the 49ers.

Bucs coach Dirk Koetter reached the decision early Monday but did not make the announcement in his news conference, waiting until he had a chance to meet individually with both Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick was benched in the third quarter Sunday after throwing three interceptions in the Bucs' 38-35 loss to the New York Giants. Winston led the Bucs to touchdowns on four straight possessions. He finished 12 of 16 passing for 199 yards with two touchdowns and one interception at the end of the game.

"He played better. Yup," Koetter said of Winston. "You're asking me to put a statistical number on it. He played better. He got us in the end zone four straight times. For the most part, he made good decisions with the football.''

Including Winston's three-game suspension, it's the fourth time the Bucs have changed their starting quarterback. Koetter acknowledged that the rotation has been disruptive to both players.

"For sure, to those players in particular, of course, of course both those guys would rather have played the whole time," Koetter said. "You know, how much it's been disruptive to everyone else? That's difficult to say, but you know, our quarterback play in general has been spectacular at times and not good enough at times.

"That's just the story of where we're at on offense right now. Almost every game, we get some beautiful, beautiful play at quarterback. Some tremendous throws, some great decision-making, some beautiful adjustments. But at other times, we got some bad decision-making that resulted in turnovers, and that's hurting our team."

The Bucs lead the NFL with 23 interceptions. Fitzpatrick has 12 and Winston has 11.

Fitzpatrick started the season by throwing for 400 yards in each of his first three games, an NFL record. He stunned the New Orleans Saints in the season opener by throwing for 417 yards and four touchdowns. He followed that up with a 402-yard, 4 TD performance in a win over the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight game.

Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions in as many plays in the Bucs 30-27 loss to the Steelers on Monday Night Football. After falling behind by five touchdowns in the first half at Chicago, Fitzpatrick was benched the first time for Winston in the second half.

Winston played well but lost in his regular season debut at Atlanta. The next week, he threw two INTs- in a shaky 26-23 win over Cleveland. Then came the four-interception meltdown at Cincinnati that put him back on the bench.

Fitzpatrick rallied the Bucs from 18 points down in the fourth quarter but the Bucs lost 37-34. He started- three more games, losing at Carolina, home vs. Washington and Sunday at the Giants.

Fitzpatrick's final pass Sunday was a high, deep throw to DeSean Jackson that was intercepted by safety Curtis Riley.

"I just threw it up," Fitzpatrick said. "I threw it up. He's either going to make a play or they were and when you throw up 50-50 balls, fifty percent of the time they get them."

But Koetter took issue with Monday with that description.

"That wasn't a 50-50 ball," Koetter said. "That was a bad decision. A 50-50 ball is a ball that's thrown deep against the proper coverage and that's not what that was. And you know, I'm sorry if I have to disagree with that but I'm going to lie about that. That wasn't an opportunity ball. That was a poor decision.''

Although there was no announcement Monday on who the No. 2 quarterback will be Sunday, Koetter said he would consider Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has never throw a pass in a regular season game.

"I would, of course," Koetter said. "I've said many times I have of ton of confidence in Ryan Griffin. He doesn't have the game experience but of course, I would."

Koetter said he didn't know if Winston will start the remaining six games.

"I never go into it thinking it's a week to week thing," Koetter said. "But I think continuity is a cop out. We've got capable quarterbacks. There's no reason they can't play consistent football. I've seen them do it. I mean I know they can do it.

"You're asking me to predict the future and unfortunately I can't do that."

"Oh, it's very important," Taggart said Monday. "We're a prideful university. We pride ourselves on winning, and you think about the streak, that's winning. We have been winning every year. So it's very important that we go out and give our fans, our alumni, our former players and coaches that have been here and our current players and coaches everything we can to see that we get this victory and keep it going."

Francois running

Considering how much Taggart has relied on running quarterbacks (see: Flowers, Quinton) in the past, FSU QB Deondre Francois' lack of involvement in the run game has been a mild surprise. That started to change last week when Francois carried the ball a season-high nine times (excluding sacks).

Taggart said Francois has been willing to rush more often. The Seminoles finally allowed him to do it last week because he was healthy enough and there were running lanes open for him.

"It was good to see him go out there and run with a purpose and get us some yardage that we needed when it happened," Taggart said. "So I know there's things we can do that can help us on offense with him running the football, but it was good for him to go out there and for us to call the plays to allow him to do that."

Emory update

Gators QB Emory Jones has already appeared in one game against a rival (Georgia) as a true freshman. It doesn't sound as if the blue-chip talent will play in another this week.

Jones has played in three games, so he can only appear in one more without burning his redshirt and losing a year of eligibility. With QB Kyle Trask (foot) sidelined this week and possibly for the bowl game, Jones is UF's top backup, behind starter Feleipe Franks.

"He's a snap away from being our starter," Mullen said. "So we're going to prepare for him to play. Then during the game, we'll make the decision whether or not he goes in or not."

Translation: UF would prefer not to play him, unless Franks gets injured. A specialty Jones package (like the one the Gators used against Georgia) seems more likely for the bowl game than this weekend.

Extreme paranoia

Mullen was asked Monday about an urban legend involving former UF coach Urban Meyer, who supposedly didn't want his players to eat in Tallahassee ... because he was afraid they'd be poisoned. Mullen didn't deny the story, or the sentiment behind it.

"As coaches, we're paranoid about everything," Mullen said. "You are. I mean, if you go on the road and somebody like gets sick or something after dinner, you're like, 'Oh, they poisoned us.' As a coach you're paranoid about everything all the time. But you would hope that would not really happen. College football, man, they're some passionate people about college football and about their teams. So we're always cautious about everything going on."

DUNEDIN - Members of the Kiwanis Club of Dunedin will be cooking and selling hot dogs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 1, at the entrance to Ace Hardware at 1750 Main St. The purpose of the sale is to provide scholarships to the Adventure Amputee Camp at Nantahala Outdoor Center near Briceson, N.C. The camp was started in 1995 and provides a variety of outdoor activities for children ages 8 to 16 years old who have lost a limb. All expenses are paid for the children. The children are able to participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities which include white water rafting, ropes course, canoeing and water skiing.

TAMPA-- Tuesday marks the one-month anniversary of USF's last victory. The team's bowl projections and body language have become equally bothersome. Twitter discussions about Bulls coaches have reached alarming levels of toxicity.

"We just haven't put together a complete game in all three phases," coach Charlie Strong said Monday, repeating what has become a tagline for the season.

Yet despite the on-field mediocrity and off-field vitriol, an opportunity remains for these Bulls (7-4, 3-4) to become memorable, historic, perhaps even endearing.

A triumph Friday against No. 8 UCF (10-0, 7-0) would afford them such status, and salvage an otherwise dreary season.

In a year when they failed to snag that elusive first conference title or secure a bowl trip anywhere near New Year's Day, the Bulls still can notch what would go down as arguably the biggest win in program history.

"This game means everything," said cornerback Mazzi Wilkins, a Plant High alumnus and one of 18 seniors who will be recognized Friday.

"We have very high expectations for ourselves, so I don't know if it can completely (save the year), but it would definitely heal a lot of the wounds that happened. It would make us feel a little bit better about ourselves."

Wilkins is downplaying the euphoria a win Friday would elicit. A little bit better? Imagine the spontaneous celebration that would ensue on the Raymond James Stadium field if USF were to prevail. Imagine the radiance emitting from players' faces as they hoist the "War on I-4" trophy. Imagine the media buzz.

If it could snap UCF's 23-game streak, USF would momentarily become a national darling, days after ESPN and College GameDay spent a weekend fawning over the Knights.

"It would mean a lot, especially for this program," senior defensive end Josh Black said. "Just to come mess up their season, put a nice little cap on our season."

Of course, bringing that scenario to fruition likely will require more than a complete game. It may call for a perfect one.

Notoriously slow starters for most of the season, the Bulls must seize early momentum (see Tyre McCants vs. UCF, 2017). Offensively, they must be diverse and consistent, especially on first down.

And they absolutely, positively can't give up explosive plays (of 20 or more yards) to a team that averages nearly nine of them per contest.

"It's a lot of home run balls for them," Strong said. "We can't allow them to take the ball and pitch it over our head for 60- and 70-yard plays."

To be sure, the prerequisites are many. But the payoff would be enormous. Instead of ending a season demoralized, these Bulls in a sense could be immortalized.

"I know personally with myself, I was a little disappointed (with the season)," Wilkins said. "But I know this game would definitely make it better, and I know it would make my brothers feel happy as well."

Hometown Hernando is devoted to everyday life in Hernando County, whether it's snapshots from your family reunion, a recreational sporting event, news from your last club meeting or just a few lines thanking someone for a job well done. Please limit your submissions to one a month. We will publish as many as we have room for each week. You can contact Hometown Hernando news coordinator Phyllis Day at pday@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1408.

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{7B02E172-A43F-425D-E053-0100007F710B}Pubdate:Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:25:53 -0500ST. PETERSBURG - Two people were killed early Monday morning and a portion of 38 Avenue N was closed following a crash in a stolen car.

According to St. Petersburg police, a 2016 Mazda Miata was speeding west on 38th Avenue N about 3:30 a.m. As the car approached 49th Street N, the driver lost control, swerved and hit a tree. The Miata caught fire.

The Miata had been stolen just hours before the crash, authorities said.

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{7B084F15-D10E-5167-E053-0100007F499B}Pubdate:Mon, 19 Nov 2018 15:40:42 -0500Thanksgiving travel week is upon us, and so, too, are low gas prices. Gas prices in Florida are on track to be the lowest in two years, a boon for the 2.5 million travelers AAA, The Auto Club Group, expects to take to the roadways for the holiday this week.

Florida gas prices averaged $2.49 a gallon Monday, down 8 cents over the week. Tampa Bay gas was $2.32 a gallon, down 9 cents over the week. Nationally, gas was $2.62 per gallon.

"The state average should carve off another 5 cents before Thanksgiving," Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA, said in a news release.-&quot;Florida's average price should eventually reach $2.35 before fully adjusting to recent oil and wholesale gas price declines."

Bucs coach Dirk Koetter- knows who he wants to start at quarterback Sunday against the 49ers.

He just hasn't informed Jameis Winston or Ryan Fitzpatrick of his decision, and until he does, Koetter isn't saying.

"I want to start off by telling you I know I said I would talk about the quarterback thing today," Koetter said at the start of his news conference. "I have not had a chance to talk to those guys individually.

"Even though I know what we're going to do at quarterback, I'm not going to be able to say today because I would never tell the media before I told the quarterbacks themselves. Hope to get that done here this afternoon, but it just hasn't worked out so far."

Fitzpatrick was benched in the third quarter of Sunday's 38-35 loss against the New York Giants after throwing his third interception of the game. Winston, who had not played since he was pulled Oct. 28 at Cincinnati, led the Bucs to touchdowns on four consecutive drives in the second half.

If you include having to start Fitzpatrick in the season opener at New Orleans due to Winston's three-game suspension, this could be the fourth change since the start of the season. Fitzpatrick went 2-2, beating the Saints and Eagles before losing to the Steelers and Bears. He was replaced by Winston, who lost to the Falcons and beat the Browns before throwing four interceptions, including a pick-six, in a loss to the Bengals.

Winston certainly helped his cause by completing 12 of 16 for 199 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on the final play of the game for the Bucs.

"He played better. Yup," Koetter said. "You're asking me to put a statistical number on it. He played better.

"He got us in the end zone four straight times. For the most part, he made good decisions with the football.''

OLDSMAR - After years of quiet election cycles filled with automatic reappointments and little turnover on the City Council, voters will have some decisions to make on Election Day in March.

Current City Council member Eric Seidel had previously announced his intention to run for mayor next year, setting up a three-person (so far) scramble for his seat.

"I've served under three different mayors over the years and have served three times as vice mayor," Seidel said of his decision to relinquish Seat 1 after the election, regardless of the outcome. "I believe the experiences have helped to prepare me to be our next mayor."

Seidel currently has no opposition on the ballot, but three candidates have qualified in the race to see who fills his vacant spot.

Matt Clarke, a native Australian known for his community service, and Andrew Knapp, an Oldsmar native who has volunteered for local nonprofits, are a pair of political newcomers.

"I feel that I am rightly positioned to lend my talents to help improve the city," Knapp wrote on his campaign Facebook page. "I am an engineer by occupation and a problem solver by nature. I have been doing my homework as to how our city currently works, and I'm ready to put in the effort to make it work that much better."

Via Facebook messenger, Clarke said, "Oldsmar is looking for a fresh face with a proven track record in the community. It's time to get fresh minds with common sense solutions and the drive to get things done and possibly start thinking outside the box on some issues."

The pair learned they would be running against an experienced local lawmaker when Linda Norris announced her intention to re-enter public life last month following a three-year hiatus.

"I always planned to run again because I love serving the city of Oldsmar and all the citizens," Norris, who served two terms before term limits forced her out in 2016. "Now that I'm semi-retired, I will have more time to dedicate to the city and moving Oldsmar forward."

Norris said she was preparing for a tough but fair fight.

"Everybody should be afforded the opportunity to run for office, and I look forward to the challenge," she said, noting she would once again donate the majority of her council salary to local nonprofit Oldsmar Cares should she be elected. "I think this is exactly what our democracy is all about."

To date the race for Seat 1 is Dan Saracki's to win, as the incumbent hasn't had a challenger qualify.

"I look forward to working with city staff and council to build a downtown area of which Oldsmar can be proud and support all projects that maintain a safe and vibrant community in which to live, work and play,'' Saracki said.

The race for Seat 4 features a contrast between the two candidates who have qualified so far, political newcomer Katie Gannon and longtime council member Jerry Beverland.

Gannon, a lawyer who does a lot of volunteer work in the city, said on her campaign website she hopes to be "a new voice for Oldsmar."

"I'm a wife, a mother, and a lawyer. I'm a member of the Florida Bar, the Oldsmar Leisure Services Advisory Board, the Oldsmar Historical Society, the Oldsmar Woman's Club, and Friends of the Oldsmar Library," Gannon's biography page reads. "If we aren't already friends, I hope to meet you during the next few months to find out what's important to you and how you feel about the city's progress."

Beverland, who has written four books on Oldsmar's history, was first elected to council in the 1970s and has served several terms as mayor, vice-mayor and council member over the past 40 plus years.

He came out of a short retirement to win a close race for Seat 4 in 2016.

"I thought about not running again (next year),'' he said,-&quot;but then I thought it would be my last time, so why not?"

The man who is known for never being afraid to speak his mind said he welcomed the challenge from Gannon, whom he has met and said "seems like a nice lady. But he also has never been one to back down and he said he likes his chances to earn one final term.

"I've got 52 years of experience in this city," Beverland said. "I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know what's going on and I know the history of this town."

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{7B0A0B93-67B1-6994-E053-0100007F4314}Pubdate:Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:39:25 -0500A woman who died after plunging 14 stories off a Princess cruise ship that had set sail from Florida has been identified as a 52-year-old American.

Almarosa Tenorio died after she fell from the Royal Princess as it sailed in the Caribbean between Curacao and Aruba on Tuesday. People aboard the 3,600-passenger ship were awakened by an announcement at 4:30 a.m. that something had happened near one of the life boats.

The FBI is investigating along with prosecutors in Aruba, who told ABC News that homicide is a possible cause of death. Currently, her death is being classified as-&quot;unnatural." An autopsy and forensic investigation have been conducted.

Tenorio was traveling with her husband, but he is not considered a suspect, according to ABC. The cruise ship returned to Fort Lauderdale over the weekend.

Her family released a statement and told ABC News that she was a loving mother, grandmother and volunteer teacher's aide. They also said she was an avid cruiser and traveler.

"Almarosa was a very loving daughter, sister, mom and grandmother with a good heart," he wrote.-&quot;Her passion was teaching and working with children. She had a vivacious personality with a smile that would light up a room. We are sad that she was taken from us at such a young age. She will be missed by all that knew her."

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{7B02E172-A452-425D-E053-0100007F710B}Pubdate:Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:36:03 -0500Three people were injured Monday afternoon in a single-car rollover crash that backed up southbound lanes on U.S. 19 in Clearwater.

According to Clearwater Fire and Rescue, the crash occurred in the around 1:45 p.m. between Sunset Point Road and Enterprise Road around 1:45 p.m., and only one southbound lane is getting by.

Three people have been taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, officials said.

Motorists can use Belcher Road or McMullen-Booth Road as alternates.

This is a developing story. Stay with tampabay.com for updates.

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{7B0401B5-07EC-46C7-E053-0100007F74AD}Pubdate:Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:04:24 -0500Just days after she was born, her family took Katarina "Kat" Moller to a race track where her father Tom Moller was competing in a dragster.

Few were surprised years later when Ms. Moller took up the sport, as well.

"As a baby she went from the hospital to the racetrack," said Elaine Larsen, who with husband Chris Larsen owns the Larsen Motorsports team for which Ms. Moller raced. "Watching her was watching a kid who was born to race."

Ms. Moller, a University of South Florida graduate who worked in her native Sarasota as a manufacturing engineer, died Thursday when she crashed a dragster capable of 300 mph speeds during an exhibition run at Sebring International Raceway.

She was 24.

"The dictionary describes the adjective of home as 'relating to the place where one lives,'" co-owner Chris Larsen said. "Kat was at home at the racetrack."

Former Larsen Motorsports teammate Marisha Falk, now a private jet pilot living in Wimauma, remembered Ms. Moller as a dragster who always had time for fans, especially the kids.

"Drag racing is a very fan friendly environment," Falk said. "But it can be hard when so many fans want attention. Kat always made sure she had the time for the little ones."

When she wasn't at the race track, Ms. Moller put her USF mechanical engineering degree to work as an employee of Radiant Power Corp., producing power management products for the aviation and aerospace industries.

She was also pursuing a master's degree in manufacturing engineering from Melbourne-based Florida Institute of Technology. And her image is front and center on USF's web page for "Prospective Engineering Students."

"We were always in awe of her," Radiant president Anish Patel said. "She had a real calm and sweet demeanor here and a completely different demeanor on the race track. Today, we are in shock and we are numb."

In 2013, Ms. Moller told the Tampa Tribune that she first began racing at age 11.

"I grew up on the racetrack with my dad," she said. "I knew it was something I wanted to try out. Once I got in a car, I knew it was something I wanted to make a career of."

From the junior dragster division, she graduated to Sportsman Mustang, then her dad's Super-Pro dragster, she told the Tribune.

"It didn't matter what car I put her in, it wasn't fast enough," her father Tom said in 2013. "She constantly wanted to go to the next class and go faster."

When Ms. Moller joined Larsen Motorsports in 2013, she was thought to be the youngest female drag racer in the world.

"She was like a little sister to everybody," former teammate Falk said. "She was always upbeat. She always wanted to cheer people up."

Falk recalled a race between her and Ms. Moller during their first year together with Larsen Motorsports.

They were talking trash to one another before the race. But when Ms. Moller won, "She came back and gave me a big hug and apologized for beating me," Falk said. "That's who Kat was."

Team co-owner Chris Larsen echoed that sentiment.

"She wanted to win but she was always happy because she just loved to race," he said. "She didn't care if she raced a moped or a go-cart. That girl just wanted to race."

In a Facebook post the day before the crash, Ms. Moller wrote that she was excited to compete at the Sebring International Raceway, where her father once drag-raced and her brother Tommy Moller now drift-races. Ms. Moller's boyfriend Kyle Fawcett also races cars.

"She loved being at the track," Elaine Larsen said. "If her boyfriend asked where they should go on a date, she'd say the track.

"I envied the way racing ran through her blood. It was something I loved to watch."

Just 19 at the time, she lived in a rural, agricultural community in Florida, which didn't have many resources for victims of such crimes.

"Women didn't have the ability to do much at the time," said Curts, now 57. "I attempted to just move on with my life."

A lot has changed since then, she said. More women are speaking out and seeking help after a year of upheaval over sexual harassment and assault - from the #MeToo movement, to the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, to proposed federal rules that would strengthen rights for accused attackers on college campuses.

The trend is showing up at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, where Curts works as a volunteer, and at the Suncoast Center in Pinellas County. Both organizations are seeing a rise in the number of calls on sexual assault hotlines.

"We're hearing from more people who were assaulted, maybe two weeks ago or two decades ago, who want to talk about it," said Clara Reynolds, president and CEO of the Hillsborough County nonprofit.-&quot;These are people who didn't feel comfortable talking about it before. Maybe it's becoming more socially acceptable from what people are seeing happen in the news."

More victims may feel-&quot;triggered" by what they see in the news, which may impact their willingness to speak out about it, said Aibgayle Dhani, a manager with the Suncoast Center.

"There are many reasons why someone wouldn't want to report a sexual assault or talk about it," she said.-&quot;So many survivors have suffered in silence for a long time."

But there are two sides to this new narrative. One is themed around empowerment, inspired by the women who came forward and publicly named their accusers. The other feels more like a punch in the gut, when harassment or assault is met with inaction.

Reynolds says she has noticed that most survivors just want to be heard, but worry that even after #MeToo, they won't be believed.

"To start a victim along the healing process, we must first validate their experience," she said. "It's not up to other people to determine what happened to you and how it makes you feel. Our job at the crisis center isn't to investigate. It's to say, 'I believe you.'"

That line of thinking translates into the center's services, which include continued counseling and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

The center works with law enforcement in Hillsborough County so that when a victim reports a sexual assault, officers and deputies offer to bring them there for services, as opposed to a local emergency room.

"It's a common misconception that you have to go to the E.R. or a police department," Reynolds said.

Inside the crisis center's Corbett Trauma Center, visitors won't find white-washed walls or harsh florescent lights, like in a hospital. Instead they'll be brought through a private entrance and led to the "quiet room," a small area with couches, plush chairs and low lighting that feels like someone's living room.

There, survivors meet with a trained victim advocate, who walks them through what comes next after an assault.

Survivors can choose to press charges and file a police report. They can choose to have a rape kit performed, which includes collecting their clothes, swabbing for DNA, a thorough physical exam, and having photos taken of any wounds or trauma. Or they can opt against any of those things.

All of this is explained while a law enforcement officer waits in another room.

"We can perform the test and hold the samples at our center for up to a year. So if a survivor isn't sure if they want to move forward right away, they have the time to think about it," Reynolds said.

Survivors also can shower and change into brand new clothes at no cost after an exam at the center. Advocates keep the shelves stocked with comfortable sweat pants and leggings, and there's a basket full of flip-flops to choose from. They pick out their own bottles of shampoo and toothpaste, too.

The center employs nurse practitioners like Sandy Steblin who are trained to handle sexual assault cases. Sometimes going through the process of the state rape kit can take hours, she said.

"There is a forensic piece to what we do," said Steblin, 59.-&quot;It can make people a little nervous. No one has experienced this before until they're a victim, so we try to be calm and mindful of that. They have no idea what they're going to do in the next hour, let alone tomorrow or the next day after an assault."

Comfort is the priority, but so is doing what the victim wants, Steblin explained. That can be complicated when a victim is a child. The center treats sexual assault victims who are 13 years and older, and is required to report sexual assault when a minor is involved.

The staff also includes victim advocates like April Scott, who are there to offer support. Most of the time, Scott says, she just asks a lot of questions: Are you warm enough? Is there someone I can call for you? Do you want to smoke a cigarette? Are you hungry? Thirsty? Would you rather be alone?

She said her job is often just being the person there to hold their hand. In the past, Scott has helped victims with the legal process after they file charges.

"What I learned on this job was that family and friends of victims aren't always as supportive as you think they would be," said Scott, 29.-&quot;Sometimes they don't know how to be. But sexual assault is something that can happen to anyone. Survivors aren't alone in this experience. That's why it's our priority to make sure they feel supported and that we believe and trust in their story."

Curts, the sexual assault survivor who volunteers at the center, now lives in Dover and works at Seacoast Bank. Her role is to be there for victims in those crucial first hours after an attack. When Curts began volunteering in 2009, she never thought much about her own sexual assault. It had been years since she thought much about it at all. But after a few shifts and some middle-of-the-night visits with survivors seeking help, the feelings from that long-ago experience surfaced anew.

"Thirty-plus years later, this has become my therapy too," Curts said. "Helping other people understand that what happened to them is not their fault."

]]>DENVER - A Colorado man was sentenced Monday to life in prison for killing his pregnant wife and their two young daughters and dumping their bodies on an oil work site.

Prosecutors have said they agreed not to seek the death penalty in exchange for Christopher Watts' guilty plea, after seeking approval from Shanann Watts' family.

Watts had pleaded guilty to three charges of murder in the deaths of his wife, Shanann Watts, and their young daughters. He also pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to two counts of killing a child, one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body.

The 33-year-old will not be eligible for parole.

A friend asked police to check on Shanann Watts on Aug. 13 after not being able to reach her and growing concerned that the 34-year-old expectant mother had missed a doctor's appointment. Officers initially handled the search and soon sought support from Colorado investigators and the FBI.

Meanwhile, Christopher Watts spoke to local television reporters from the front porch of the family's home in Frederick, a small town on the plains north of Denver where drilling rigs and oil wells surround booming subdivisions. Watts pleaded for his family safe return, telling reporters their house felt empty without 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste watching cartoons or running to greet him at the door.

Within days, he was arrested and charged with killing his family.

Court records revealed that Watts acknowledged to police that he killed his wife. Watts told investigators that he strangled her in-&quot;a rage" when he discovered she had killed their daughters after he sought a separation.

Prosecutors have since called his account-&quot;a flat-out lie."

Police learned that Christopher Watts was having an affair with a co-worker. He had denied that before being arrested.

Authorities have not released autopsy reports or any information about how the mother and daughters died. Prosecutors have said the reports would be released after Watts was sentenced.

The girls' bodies were found submerged in an oil tank, on property owned by the company Watts worked for until his arrest. Shanann Watts' body was found buried nearby in a shallow grave.

The killings captured the attention of media across the country and became the focus of true crime blogs and online video channels, aided by dozens of family photos and videos that Shanann Watts shared on social media showing the smiling couple spending time with their children.

But courts records showed the couple's lifestyle caused financial strain at times. They filed for bankruptcy in June 2015, six months after Christopher Watts was hired as an operator for the large oil and gas driller Anadarko Petroleum at an annual salary of about $61,500. At the time, Shanann Watts was working in a children's hospital call center for $18 per hour.

They reported total earnings of $90,000 in 2014 but $70,000 in unsecured claims along with a mortgage of nearly $3,000. The claims included thousands of dollars in credit card debt, some student loans and medical bills.

I'm curious as to how long after an election a candidate must remove their political signs on Pasco County roadways. And how does a resident complain about violations?

No doubt Ed Hooper is busy preparing for his new role. but don't the residents of Pasco County deserve tidy roadways? While this applies to other politicians also, Ed Hooper's signs are still everywhere as of Nov. 19.

The county spends millions on median plantings to beautify the county, but election signs are now trash on the side of our roadways.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting prescribed burns November through March in the Weekiwachee Preserve, between Spring Hill and Hernando Beach.

Approximately 400 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. The purpose of the burns is to reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. The practice also reduces overgrown plants, promotes growth of new plants, and maintains the character and condition of wildlife habitat.

United Way hosts coloring contest

The United Way of Hernando County's fourth-annual Coloring Contest is underway. All elementary-aged children can participate, and five winners will be featured on the United Way's 2018 holiday card.

Fully colored artworks will be accepted and should reflect and embrace the-&quot;Live United" spirit.

Each winner's family will receive a holiday card in the mail. This year's contest will include a twist: a chance for students to win a free ream of copy paper for their teachers. Each winner's teacher will receive the copy paper.

Participants must be Hernando County residents, the child must be enrolled in a local elementary or K-8 school, the coloring contest page must be fully colored, and a colored copy must be submitted before Nov. 30.

To download United Way's color contest page, or for further information, visit unitedwayhernando.org/coloringcontest.

United Way opens grant eligibility

The United Way of Hernando County's 2019-2020 Community Investment Grant Eligibility Process is open through Dec. 7.

Interested 501c3 health and human service organizations can apply, and must serve Hernando County residents and align with United Way's focus areas through health, education, financial stability or basic needs and crisis prevention.

New and existing partner programs must complete the eligibility process online at unitedwayhernando.org/CIG-Eligibility. New agencies must create an account and register their organizations through e-CImpact.

Organizations and programs that meet all criteria by the deadline of 5 p.m. Dec. 7 will be contacted and invited to attend the CIG Agency Workshop in January. For further details, call (352) 688-2026 or email Cynthia Gleusner at finance@unitedwayhernando.org.

Brooksville

Legislative delegation to meet

The Hernando County Legislative Delegation will meet from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 in the commission chambers at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 N Main St. in Brooksville.

The deadline for submitting information, proposed local bills or signing up to speak is noon Nov. 26. Contact Ashley Hofecker or Heidi Coykendall at (352) 688-5004, ashley.hofecker@myfloridahouse.gov or heidi.coykendall@myfloridahouse.gov.

Social club hosts annual bazaar

The Women's Social Club of Clover Leaf will host its annual bazaar from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 1 at Clover Leaf Farm's Heather House, 900 Broad St. For information, call (802) 309-5877.

Nobleton

Event to benefit fire-damaged center

A yard, bake and crafts sale will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 30 and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Tri-County Community Center, 27444 Forbes St.

There will be a variety of crafts, tools, appliances, clothing, jewelry, and other items for sale, as well as home-baked goods such as cookies, cakes and candy.

Vendor spaces are available for $10. All funds raised will benefit the restoration of the fire-damaged section of the nonprofit center. Call Dorrie at (352) 587-4014.

The event will include a variety of vendors selling crafts and other products, as well as baked goods. There will be a box for donations of gifts for needy and homeless children (the park's Ladies Club fills shoe boxes with Christmas gifts for the children).

For information, call (352) 777-2810.

People Helping People opens help center

People Helping People will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 at its new facility at 1396 Kass Circle.

There will be tours of the facility and refreshments both days and a ribbon-cutting with the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce at noon Dec. 3. For information, call (352) 686-4466.

Computer club hosts open house

The Hernando Computer Club will host an Open House/Newcomers' Orientation at 10 a.m. Dec. 3 in Education Building 3 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 8375 Spring Hill Drive.

Those attending will learn what the club has to offer. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free. For information, call (352) 684-7171 or visit hcc.org.

Weeki Wachee

Youth orchestra needs instruments

Have an unwanted musical instrument? The Hernando Youth Orchestra would like to hear from you.Donations of musical instruments help young musicians who can't afford to buy or replace an instrument. The orchestra will pick up instruments and provide donors with a tax-deductible receipt. Most instruments are acceptable; those that need work will be fixed up.

For information or to schedule a pick-up, call (352) 600-9555. Visit the website at hernandoyouthorchestra.org.

PASCO COUNTY

Countywide

Hospice shops hosts Black Friday sale

The Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes will offer two extra hours of shopping, along with discounts and deals, on Black Friday, Nov. 23.

The stores will be open 8 a.m.until 6 p.m. Early bird door busters include 50 percent off storewide from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by flash sales until 5 p.m., and 50 percent off boutique and jewelry from 5 to 6 p.m.

All proceeds directly support care for hospice patients in Pasco County, and help provide bereavement services for the community. Store are in Hudson, New Port Richey, Lutz, Dade City and two shops in Zephyrhills. For store addresses and information, visit ghppc.org/thrift-shoppes or call toll-free at 1-800-561-4883.

Dade City

Lake Jovita hosts annual run

The 12th annual 5K Reindeer Run will be Dec. 1 at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club, 12900 Lake Jovita Blvd.

Registration will be at 7 a.m., with the run starting at 8 a.m.

The cost is $40 per runner; register online at active.com, or pick up a registration form at the Lake Jovita Fitness Center.

Sponsorship opportunities are available from $100-$500. All proceeds will benefit Sunrise of Pasco Domestic and Sexual Violence Center. For details, contact Kelly Sinn at (352) 521-3358 or ksinn@sunrisepasco.org.

Holiday

Guild to host craft, bake sale

A Christmas Craft and Bake Sale, hosted by the Our Lady's Guild Arts and Craft Group, will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 4843 Mile Stretch Drive. For information, call (727) 807-3704.

Hudson

Beachside fest to feature chair auction

The second annual CARES Beach Chair-ity Festival and Auction will be 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at SunWest Park, 17362 Old Dixie Highway.

The event will feature live bands, draft beer and wine, as well as food, art and craft vendors. A fireworks display will begin at dusk on Dec. 15.

The CARES Beach Chair-ity Auction will be at 3 p.m. Dec. 16. One-of-a-kind painted Adirondack chairs donated by sponsors will be auctioned off. The chairs have been painted by local artists and will be judged in three categories (most creative, best use of color and most Facebook likes). They will be on display throughout the festival before being auctioned to the highest bidder.

The event will include vendors, prizes, flapjack breakfast, games, a visit from Santa and other surprises.

The cost for the 5K is $25 for adults, $17 for students. The 1-mile fun run is $15.

Vendors can still sign up to participate. The cost is $30 for chamber members, $50 for nonmembers. Rummage sale space is available for $20. There is a new member special; those who join the chamber by Nov. 30 receive a booth space free. Call (813) 909-2722 or email to office@centralpascochamber.com.

Odessa

Arts and Crafts Show set for Dec. 1-2

The 39th annual Lutz Arts and Crafts Show will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 1 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2 at Keystone Prep Campus, 18105 Gunn Highway.

The show will include more than 300 vendors who will be showing and selling metal art, jewelry, yard art, painting, plants, wood art, Christmas decor, artisanal goods and photography. There will also be a large food court. Santa will visit at 1 p.m. both days.

Admission is free. Parking is $5; $10 for VIP parking. For information, contact Lois Cohen at (813) 528-1179 or lutzartsandcraftsshow@gmail.com.

Contact Phyllis Day at pday@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1408. Follow @pdaytimes.

]]>The title of Green Book derives from a period when African-Americans often traveled at their own risk, especially in the Jim Crow South. Unwelcome in many restaurants, hotels and other public establishments, they even faced death in "sundown" towns, where they were warned to get out before evening, or else.

In response, a postal employee named Victor Hugo Green created a guide designed to "give the Negro traveler information that will keep him from running into difficulties, embarrassments and to make his trips more enjoyable." The Green Book was published for more than 30 years, finally ceasing publication in the late 1960s.

The pain, peril and murderous racism that made the Green Book a necessity of black life seems like unlikely fodder for a crowd-pleaser that plays like gangbusters. But Green Book, a spirited amalgam of buddy comedy, road movie, fish-out-of-water fable and accessible social history, is just that cinematic unicorn.

As an inspiring and thoroughly entertaining chapter drawn from all-too-real life, it mixes authenticity and Hollywood schmaltz with ease that feels both relaxed and judiciously calibrated. Most winningly, Green Book puts two of the finest screen actors working today in a sexy turquoise Cadillac, letting them loose on a funny, swiftly-moving chamber piece bursting with heart, art and soul.

The actors in question are Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali, who prove to be a superbly balanced team. Mortensen plays Tony "Lip" Vallelonga, a Bronx bouncer who in 1962 is making his living at a New York nightclub and trying to avoid working as muscle for the local mob. When he loses his job, he makes ends meet by putting his prodigious appetite to use in a hot dog-eating contest, which even he, being slightly dimwitted, realizes isn't a sustainable model. Eventually, he answers a call from a Manhattan musician looking for a driver and shows up at his would-be employer's Carnegie Hall address ready to take anything that pays.

What he finds is a man named Don Shirley (Ali), a supremely elegant pianist and composer who greets Tony draped in regal robes, then conducts the interview from what looks like an ancient Egyptian throne. Shirley, a favorite of Park Avenue and other well-heeled precincts, has booked some dates throughout the South in a tour that will end around Christmas. Although his distinctive brand of bespoke, classically infused jazz is popular with white audiences, he's not taking any chances: He hires Tony to act both as chauffeur and protector should any difficulties, embarrassments or less-than-enjoyable circumstances arise.

The ensuing journey unfolds much as the audience might expect: The slovenly, tough-talkin' Tony and the quiet, impeccably mannered "Dr. Shirley" almost immediately begin to bicker about everything from the music Tony listens to in the car to the cigarettes he smokes between his incessant chatter. But Green Book, which was co-written by Vallelonga's son Nick, turns out to be much more than The Odd Couple meets Driving Miss Daisy. Surely Nick's own intimate knowledge of the real-life lead players helps lend Green Book its sense of groundedness, not to mention the distinctive characters of two larger-than-life men. What's more, it makes sure to give the audience permission to laugh, even as the stakes of Shirley's trip become dangerously high.

As might be expected, Tony and Dr. Shirley meet their fair share of physical danger in Green Book, but it's the psychic blows that wound the most: Although at first the uncouth Tony may not understand Dr. Shirley's genius at the piano - as well as his sophisticated sense of etiquette and comportment - even he can recognize the hypocrisy of applauding someone's talent one minute, then relegating him to an outdoor lavatory the next. But it's not as if Dr. Shirley is any more at home among the mostly black servers, bartenders and domestic staff that he encounters in a world where a man like him - black, brilliantly educated and, one scene suggests, gay - can find little if any purchase.

It will surprise no one to learn that both Tony and Dr. Shirley undergo powerful transformations in Green Book, which begins with a scene of Tony throwing out two water glasses used by black workmen hired by his wife, Dolores (Linda Cardellini), and which also includes a scene of Tony encouraging his ever-so-proper employer to eat a piece of fried chicken with his hands. If that image sounds horribly cringeworthy, it's a tribute to director Peter Farrelly and to Mortensen and Ali that what could be a fatally misbegotten exercise winds up being unexpectedly warm and amusing.

Farrelly, best known for directing such comedies as Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary with his brother Bobby, has never been known as subtle, or for caring much about what his movies looked like. But Green Book is an exceptionally pleasant experience, both visually and aurally, photographed in rich period hues by Sean Porter and drenched in gorgeous music by both Shirley and composer Kris Bowers. It was Bowers, reportedly, who coached Ali in the finger movements that look so convincing in the film, especially during a fabulously boisterous interlude set at a hopping juke joint.

But all the technical prowess in the world wouldn't be able to overcome iffy casting in a film that lives or dies by its two central performances. In that regard, Mortensen and Ali take ownership of Green Book early on and make it entirely theirs. Mortensen has always been an appealing, versatile actor, but here he discovers untold layers of humor (and belly fat) to lean in to Tony's alternately grating and hilarious naivete. Playing off Mortensen's expansive lack of self-consciousness, Ali is all controlled interior, communicating as much in a glance or a raised finger as with a pages-long monologue.

The cumulative result of so many things going for it is that Green Book fires on all cylinders, creating the kind of satisfying mainstream moviegoing experience that many observers thought Hollywood had forgotten how to make. There was a time when Green Book might have been the tale of a racist-with-a-heart-of-gold being redeemed by a too-good-to-be-true African-American shaman or self-sacrificing paragon. No one is redeemed here, just given space to develop mutual respect and affection. The great success of Green Book lies in its modesty, and the straightforward way it recognizes seismic change in the incremental turning of a human heart.

Snow Bash: Real snow and a sledding area will be the highlight of this event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 24 at Tom Varn Park, 306 Darby Lane, Brooksville. Featuring live entertainment, music, food trucks, games and vendors. Funds raised will benefit the SEED Foundation, Hernando County Education Foundation, Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, Veterans HEAT Factory and the Friends of the Children. Admission is $5 per person; $5 parking. Visit theseedfoundation.org.

Paws and Claus Holiday Art and Craft Fair: This benefit and adoption event will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 24 at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, Spring Hill. Santa will visit from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m., and children can have their faces painted and get a balloon. Featuring more than 50 local artisans. This is a benefit for Kathi's K9s and Paw Warriors, who will have pets available for adoption. Donations of pet toys and pet food items appreciated. Admission is free. Call (352) 796-1414.

Festivals

Thanksgiving Bluegrass Festival: Annual show kicks off Nov. 22 and continues through Nov. 24 at Sertoma Youth Ranch, 85 Myers Road, south of Spring Lake on the Hernando/Pasco county border. Bring a covered dish at 2 p.m. Nov. 22 (Thursday) for the family traditional Thanksgiving dinner at the ranch. Sertoma supplies the turkey. The three-day event features bluegrass music from a variety of bands, such as Lonesome River Band, Trinity River Band, Southern Express, the Grasscutters, Blue Highway, and Darrin-&amp; Brooke Aldridge with John Cowan. Weekend adult tickets, $85; daily tickets at the gate $20-$35; camping sites available. Call (828) 265-9929. sertomayouthranch.com.

Fall Family Festival: The fest will be from 4 to 10 p.m. at Lakewood Retreat Christian Camp-&amp; Conference Center, 25458 Dan Brown Hill Road, Brooksville. With hayrides, open kettle popcorn, s'mores, a big bonfire, music, games and more. Food will be available for purchase from 5 to 8:30 p.m. (cash only). Admission is $5 per person, $14 per family. Call (352) 796-4097. lakewoodretreat.org.

On Stage

Calvacade of Stars Variety Show: Hosted by John Timpanelli, the show will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 27 at Elks Lodge 2284, 7201 Congress St., New Port Richey. Includes singers, comedians and magic. Tickets are $10 advance, $12 at the door. (727) 846-8012.

Art events

Un-Common-Ly-Artsy: Browse the collection of fine artists, crafters and artisans at the monthly arts market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 24 in downtown Brooksville at Brooksville City Hall, 201 Howell Ave. There will be food trucks and entertainment. Free admission. Email events@brooksvillemainstreet.org or call (352) 540-6476.

Holiday Celebrations Boutique: The show and sale continues 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, through Dec. 20 at the West Pasco Art Guild and Gallery, 6206 Jefferson St., New Port Richey. The show features paintings, jewelry and crafts, as well as other original items. Call (727) 841-7732. westpascoartguildandgallery.org.

Art with Needle and Thread: The exhibit of work from the Gulfview chapter of the Embroiderers Guild of America is on display through Dec. 12 at Pasco-Hernando State College Rao Musunuru, M.D. Art Gallery, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey. Call (727) 816-3231. phsc.edu.

Giving Thanks: The exhibit continues through Dec. 2 at the Uptown Art Gallery at Brooksville City Hall, 201 Howell Ave., Brooksville. Mingle with the artists, and enjoy submissions by Just Poets. The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; closed on holidays. Free. Call (352) 540-3810

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Other Pasco County Events

23 Friday

Thanksgiving Meal: This is the sixth-annual Feed the Hungry at Thanksgiving event for homeless and less fortunate Pasco County residents. Sponsored by Metropolitan Ministries, the Volunteer Way and the Columbian Event Center. Donations of nonperishable foods, clothing for all ages and personal hygiene items can be dropped off at the West Pasco Government Center prior to the event. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. Columbian Event Center, 5850 K of C Drive, Port Richey. (727) 389-1512.

Bazaar-Craft-Carnival: There will be at least 18 craft booths, a silent auction and many carnival games. There is a cost for carnival games; all children who play win a prize. Carnival food available. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Orangewood Lakes Mobile Park Clubhouse, 7850 Oldfield Road, New Port Richey.

26 Monday

Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary 6476: Card party. Doors open at 10 a.m. A hot lunch will be served at noon. The cost is $7. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 4843 Mile Stretch Drive, Holiday. (727) 389-0518.

Zephyrhills City Hall Open House: The new 19,000-square-foot facility is open for business. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce. 4 to 7 p.m. Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 8th St., Zephyrhills.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Orientation/Training Event: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay has dozens of children in Pasco County on its waiting list for a big brother or big sister. Adult mentors are needed and may choose between several programs. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wesley Chapel Honda, 27750 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Wesley Chapel. (813) 997-6881.

Other Hernando County Events

Saturday

Master Gardener Nursery: Spruce up a landscape or garden space with Florida native and Florida-friendly plants, all from healthy stock, at budget prices, at the nursery open from 9 a.m. to noon, each Wednesday and Saturday, weather permitting.Master Gardener Nursery, 19490 Oliver St., Brooksville. (352) 754-4433.

Nature Coast Botanical Gardens and Plant Nursery: Plants are grown and sold at budget-friendly prices at the nursery, which is open from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday and Monday. The adjacent botanical garden is open daily from dawn to dusk. Visit naturecoastgardens.com. 9 a.m. to noon. Nature Coast Botanical Gardens, 1489 Parker Ave., Spring Hill. (352) 683-9933. naturecoastgardens.com.

Spring Lake Museum and History Center: Open on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, the center offers historic artifacts and photos, local family histories and photos, school and lake histories, and more. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. Old Spring Lake Community Center, 4184 Spring Lake Highway, Brooksville. (352) 796-4704.

When Bad Landscapes Happen to Good People: Learn the most common mistakes and how to learn from them to create a beautiful and sustainable landscape. No registration necessary. 10:30 a.m. Free. Hernando County Utilities Administration Building, 15365 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. (352) 540-6230.

Contact Phyllis Day at pday@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1408. Follow @pdaytimes.